Jackals are canids native to Africa and Eurasia. While the word "jackal" has historically been used for many canines of the subtribe canina, in modern use it most commonly refers to three species: the closely related black-backed jackal and side-striped jackal of sub-Saharan Africa, and the golden jackal of south-central Europe and Asia. The African golden wolf was also formerly considered a jackal.
Jackal
Image: L. m. mesomelas, Sunday's River Valley Local Municipality 3
Image: CANIS ADUSTUS dans le park zoologique de kinshasa (cropped)
Image: Golden jackal in Jorasi Range
Canidae is a biological family of dog-like carnivorans, colloquially referred to as dogs, and constitutes a clade. A member of this family is also called a canid. The family includes three subfamilies: the Caninae, the extinct Borophaginae and Hesperocyoninae. The Caninae are known as canines, and include domestic dogs, wolves, coyotes, foxes, jackals and other species.
Canidae
Representatives of three canid subfamilies: Hesperocyon (Hesperocyoninae), Aelurodon (Borophaginae) and Canis aureus (Caninae)
Skeleton of a black-backed jackal (Lupulella mesomelas) on display at the Museum of Osteology
Diagram of a wolf skull with key features labelled